HAWKE’S BAY.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Issue 1493, 5 December 1918, Page 11

HAWKE’S BAY.

G. Jones’ Team Still Quartered at Greenmeadows—Demagogue at Present on Invalid List—lnfluenza Scourge Levies Heavy Toll — Sale of Finmark—Success of the Okawa Breeding Establishment.

NAPIER, Monday. The anticipated location of G. Jones’ team at Woodville has evidently fell through, for this trainer is again domiciled with his string at Greenmeadows in the quarters that he occupied prior to his departure for the south last October. T. Quinlivan, accompanied by Mrs. M. A. Perry’s representatives, arrived at his home quarters at Otatara, Taradale, last Tuesday from Lyttleton. All the bunch came back in good health and condition, with the exception of Demagogue, who is suffering from side trouble, and his trainer considers it will be some time ere he will be free of the malady. The prevailing scourge has during the past few days removed several well-known local people from our midst, and amongst them are many who were known in the world of sport, namely, Mrs. A. J. Ellingham, wife of Mr. A. J. Ellingham, of the Pacific Hotel, Hastings, a lady who will be greatly missed in the district, for she was foremost in the band of workers who were always at their posts when the alleviation of distress called for urgent action. Mrs. H. Hassall,- who succumbed to the visitation of the influenza fiend, was the wife of Mr. H. Hassall, of “Soutra,” Riverslea, and was greatly respected in the “Bay,” her personality and generosity having made her a universal favourite amongst those fortunate enough to come into touch with her. Mr. G. Lomas, for quite a number of years had filled the position of clerk of the course to the Napier Park Racing Club, and his demise will be keenly felt, not only by the racing folk, but also in other circles. Another victim, Wallace McKay, an apprentice jockey attached to P. Smith’s training quarters at Hastings, was a bright cheery lad not out of his teens, and his efforts

in the saddle were indicative that had he lived he would have made his mark as an exponent of the art of riding, for he had good hands, keen perception and energy. Among others to succumb to the dread disease was H. Watson, who had not been long back from the Cup meeting, where he had been engaged following his avocation of jockey, where, amongst other mounts, he was up on Maioha when he won the Avon Welter at Riccarton. The deceased served his time under S. Waddell, at Karamu, and in addition to being a good horseman was a courteous well conducted young fellow who will be greatly missed in turf circles. Hendra is going along all serene in his preparation on the get ready route at Napier Park, and providing he runs up to his rehearsal form when sent out for battle the black gelding will be one of those who will get the judge busy to hoist his number as a winner. The sale of Finmark by Mr. T. H. Lowry marks the removal of another good one from the fields of action in the Dominion, as the new owner of the colt is domiciled in Australia, and his activities will, therefore, be confined to those parts. It is only a short time back since Mr. Lowry sold the colt’s full brother, Estland, for 3500 guineas, and it must be admitted that in breeding this pair at his stud farm at Okawa, Mr. Lowry can lay claim to having made a judicious selection in mating Finland with War Scare. He certainly had something to go upon, for he got a good lift along the road to success with Bobrikoff, who is a-half brother (by Finland) to War Scare, and he just went back to the blood again coupled with an admixture of the Martian strain, for War Scare is by Martian, and Finland begat both Estland and Finmark. The experiment, however, fell short in another direction, for War Talk, a younger full sister to War Scare, was also mated with Finland, and the production of hers by that sire, Communique by name, never showed anything like or approaching the quality possessed by her full brothers in blood, Estland and Finmark. Last season Mr. Lowry changed the mating of War Talk and War Scare, for he sent the former to All Black, while War Scare visited Demosthenes. The postponement of several race meetings, and the visitation of the influenza have had the effect of curtailing training operations in these parts, and there is practically nothing of note in the way of preparatory gallops to report from either Hastings or Napier Park. Trainer K. Quinlivan has been putting up a great tussle with the prevailing epidemic for the past 10 days, but happily he has now got the best of the enemy, and it is anticipated that in a very short period he will again be going well and strong.